Match-box.



No. 646,342. Patented Mar. 27, I900.-

J. ASHTON.

MATCH BOX.

(Application filed Oct. 31,1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT JOSEPH ASHTON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 646,342, dated March 2'7, 1900.

Application filed October 31, 1898. Serial No. 695,061. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ASHTON, residing at No. 12 Martell road, West Dulwich, London, in the county of Kent, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes; and Ido. hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,.such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same. 7 p

The present invention relates to improvements in match and Vesta boxes; and the'chief object of it is to provide such receptacles with means whereby to shield a match or vesta from the wind when lighted in drafty or windy places; and other objects are toso design, construct, and combine all the parts or elements which go to form such receptacles that their cooperation shall facilitate to the greatest degree the successful operation and utility of the invention.

It is only too well known that on account of the feebleness of a match-light it isalmost useless to attempt to keep one alight in even moderately drafty or windy places or situations, and yet one frequently sees match after match struck and wasted in this Way in the endeavor to get a light for a sufficient time to light on es pipe or cigar, for example. The mere fact of such frequent observation of itself is sufficient proof that a match-box provided with a means to effectually shield a match from the wind would be a public boon, even for the convenience alone not to mention the saving in matches.

I am aware that a match or Vesta box provided with a wind-guard is in itself not novel, and I do not lay any claim to such invention alone or in a general sense; but my invention consists in the particular design-that is,construction-of the box, as hereinafter fully described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, so that the actions of opening the box and guard, removing the match, striking it, shielding it, and closing the box again are simplified to the greatest degree and the proper performance of the function of each part and the box as a whole insured.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings illustrating the same and which are to be considered as part of such description and read in conjunction therewith.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the box, showing the Wind-guard and front spring-flap open and the top flap or lid closed. Fig.-2 is a perspective view showing the wind-guard and front spring-flap closed and the top flap or lid open. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the box with wind-guard open, showing the modified form of spring-hinge for the Windguard and lid. Fig. 4: is an elevation of the box shown in Fig. 3, the dotted lines reprc senting the open position of the lid. Figs. 5 and 6 represent an end elevation and side elevation of the box' completely closed. Fig. 7 represents in section the box shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the wind-guard open. Fig. 8 represents in section the box shown in Figs.- 1 and 2 with the wind-guard closed.

' According to my invention such amatch or Vesta box consists of a hollow body portion 1, more or less rectangular'in form, or it may, of course, be any fancy shape, if desired, with preferably rounded corners 2 and edges 3. The back 4, bottom 5, and right and left hand sides 6 and 7, respectively, and the lower part 8 of the front are all stamped or otherwise formed in one piece or secured together immovably.- The upper part of the front is inclosed by a spring-flap 9. This spring-flap is hinged at its bottom edge to the recessed part 10 of the lower part 8 of the front of the box, the spring of the said flap being a helical one inserted in the hinge in the well-known manner. 11 is a lid spring-hinged to the top edge 3 of theback 4 in a similar manner to the flap 9. .The wind screen or guard is a quadrantshaped hood composed of the three sides 12, 13, and 14, spring-hinged through its rightangled corners to the top edge of the left hand side of the box. A spring-catch projection or click 21 (see Figs. 7 and 8) when the guard is closed engages in an indentation 25 or hole made in the guard to receive it and the guard caused to fly open bythe pressure of the thumb upon a press-button situated near the front of the bottom of the box, as shown at 15, Fig. 1, or it may be so arranged that the guard has to be opened out and closed by hand in the manner of an ordinary pocket-knife, in which latter case I prefer to form the spring U -shaped, as shown at 15', Fig. 3, and secure it to the bottom of the box by a rivet 16 or other means.

It will be observed that the backedge of the guard in Figs. 1 and 2 is extended by the piece 17 beyond the hinge and in the same plane as the top of the guard. This provision is to insure that the top of the guard when it is fully open shall be in perfect alinement with the top of the box and also to relieve the hinge of the sudden jerk or strain upon it each time the lid is sprung open.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3 the extension 17 is not required, because the lid, being opened and closed by hand, is not suddenly thrown open, and consequently no such sudden strain is imposed upon the hinge as is the case when the spring-hinge and pressbutton are, as. shown in Fig. 1, employed; but instead thereof I turn the back edge of the top of the guard downward at a right angle, and this provides the necessary flat surface for the spring 15 to bear against. The other extremity of the same spring 15 acts in a similar manner against the lid-hinge 18.

The object of the lid 11 is to enable a match to be extracted without necessitating the opening of the guard and front'flap, 19 being a thumb boss or recess to facilitate the opening of it by hand.

The spring-hinge of the front flap is so arranged as normally to keep the said flap open, so that it is kept closed against the tension of the spring by the guard alone, which is one of the essential features of my invention, and it insures that the said flap will open automatically and expose the matches as soon as the guard has cleared it.

The screen or guard is provided on its side 12 with a slot 22, the peculiarposition of which is to be noted. The peculiar position and wedge-like shape of this slot are for the express purpose of facilitating the entry of the match as it is extracted from the box and to grip the match inserted in it, and its nearness to the front edge of the guard is to cause the match to keep well alight and be Within easy reach of the pipe, cigar, &c., that it may be required to light.

A star or other fancy shaped hole 23 is provided in the top of the wind-guard to let out the hot air to keep the guard cool.

The striking-plate 24 is most conveniently formed in the lower part of the front of the box.

As previously stated, I am aware that match or vesta boxes have already been provided with a pivoted wind-guard to shield the lighted match, and I therefore do not broadly claim such as my invention; but

\Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a match-box having a receptacle for the matches, a lid, a spring-hinged wind-guard, a catch for holding said wind-guard closed and a spring-button for releasing it, the combination with the side of the match-receptacle of a flap spring-hinged to and forming part of the said side, said flap opening automatically, and exposing the matches on the wind-guard being opened, as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ASHTON.

Witnesses:

RoBT. A. BLAKE, WALTER J. SKERTEN. 

